What's better than two of the top six teams in the country who also happen to be hated state rivals facing each other on consecutive nights? That was the case when No. 1 Michigan and No. 6 Michigan State faced off twice over the weekend.

Michigan State took three of four points from Michigan over the weekend, knocking the Wolverines from atop the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine poll. The Spartans, No. 5 and the defending NCAA champions, were only 1:38 away from a sweep on Saturday night at East Lansing's Munn Ice Arena, when MSU's Matt Schepke accidentally gloved the puck into his own net.

While Kyle Okposo's decision to sign with the NHL's New York Islanders made news around the college hockey world, Islanders' general manager Garth Snow's comments regarding Okposo and the way he was being developed at Minnesota was noted by the entire hockey community.

Michigan State can thank the Lerg family for much of its success this season. While sophomore goaltender Jeff Lerg, who burst upon the scene last season as a freshman with a 1.96 goals-against average, has continued his strong play this year, it's his cousin, Bryan Lerg, that has become the team's go-to forward.

Jeff Jackson's magic is working sooner than expected. In his second season at Notre Dame, Jackson has the Fighting Irish ranked No. 3 in the country and on top of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association standings. Jackson, who won NCAA titles with Lake Superior State in 1992 and 1994, didn't think his team would improve this much this quickly.

David Van der Gulik had three goals and an assist as top-seeded Boston University beat New Hampshire 9-2 in the Hockey East semifinals Friday. Elsewhere, BC beat Maine 4-1 to earn a date with BU in the final and Michigan State topped Michigan 4-1 and will meet Miami (Ohio) in the CCHA finals.

No. 1 Minnesota used last weekend to pull off a sweep of No. 7 Denver and moved past the Pioneers and into first place in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association. Elsewhere, Miami (Ohio) downed Ohio State to clinch the CCHA regular-season title but the win was shortlived, as the RedHawks were then swept by Michigan State over the weekend.

David Rohlfs broke a tie with a breakaway and Michigan pulled away for a 4-2 win over Michigan State on Thursday night. The No.2-ranked Wolverines (8-2-1, 6-1 CCHA) also got goals from T.J. Hensick, Eric Werner and Mike Brown and solid goaltending from Al Montoya for their seventh win in eight games.